Major General Shuqair discussed voluntary return programs for Syrians and ways to cooperate with and coordinate with the head of the UNHCR office

Syrian displacement and returns

Is this a political proposal, an organized return programme, or a documented movement of people?

1. UNHCR’s return guidance distinguishes refugees’ own decisions from government policy: it says return should be freely and voluntarily chosen by refugees according to their family’s circumstances.

   UNHCR · return guidance ↗

2. UNHCR and IOM describe their organized return programme in Lebanon as support for Syrians known to UNHCR who voluntarily decide to return. An announcement about the programme is not a count of people who have already returned.

   UNHCR / IOM · programme guidance ↗

Sources checked: 2026-11-04